Description
This beginner-friendly sourdough bread recipe yields a loaf with a golden crust, soft interior, and tangy flavor, perfect for sandwiches or enjoying warm with butter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups bread flour (500 g)
- 1 ½ cups water (350 ml)
- 2 teaspoons sea salt (10 g)
- ½ cup sourdough starter (100 g)
- Optional: chia seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, shredded cheese
Instructions
- Feed your sourdough starter a few hours before starting to ensure it’s bubbly and active.
- In a large bowl, combine bread flour, water, sea salt, and sourdough starter. Mix until no dry flour remains.
- Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough rest for 30 minutes to autolyse.
- Wet your hands and gently stretch and fold the dough 4-5 times around the bowl. Repeat every 30 minutes for 2 hours.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough ferment at room temperature for 4-6 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Lightly flour your work surface and shape the dough into a round ball. Place it seam-side up in a floured proofing basket or bowl lined with a towel.
- Cover and let the dough rise for 1-2 hours, or refrigerate overnight for a slower fermentation.
- Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C) and place your Dutch oven inside to preheat for 30 minutes.
- Turn your dough onto parchment paper and score the top with a sharp knife. Transfer the dough to the hot Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid and bake for another 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
[‘Let the dough ferment for the recommended time to achieve the best flavor.’, ‘Use a kitchen scale for accurate measurements.’, “Adjust hydration by adding more flour if the dough is too sticky or more water if it’s too dry.”, ‘Practice scoring with a sharp knife or lame for the best results.’, “If you don’t have a Dutch oven, use a baking stone or cast-iron skillet with an inverted oven-safe bowl on top to trap steam.”]
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sodium: 200
- Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 5
Keywords: sourdough bread, beginner-friendly, homemade bread, soft bread, chewy bread, no knead bread